Dear RN,
Ira Zbarsky is a Canadian activist (for organic agriculture, appropriate
technology & native rights in particular) who was seized by the US
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) on Dec. 4, 1999 because of a
1978 marijuana conviction in Canada. (The marijuana was being used for
medical purposes.)
After more than 2 months in detention without trial, Ira Zbarsky was ordered
deported yesterday. During those two months, Ira worked with other detainees
to call attention to deplorable conditions at the camp and to human rights
abuses there. He had hoped for a fair trial yesterday but the trial was
anything but fair. For me and some 2000 other people who have been following
this case it is now clear that the way the INS operates fits right in with
the way much of the US government operates: defiance of international law
and basic human rights, threats to the sovereignty of other nations, a net
effect of undermining efforts towards a livable world.
The excerpts from the press release and other information below will fill
you in on some details and provide information for those of you wanting to
follow-up on this.
all the best, jan
************************************************************
From: •••@••.•••
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 03:18:43 EST
Subject: zbarsky release 02.07
To: •••@••.•••
PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IRA ZBARSKY TO BE DEPORTED WITHOUT FULL HEARING
Canadian Consular Representative Pre-empted
February 7, 2000 -- Vancouver, BC -- Ira Zbarsky, the Canadian development
worker detained since December 4, 1999, at an immigration prison in Texas,
was ordered deported today by US Immigration Judge Tovar.
Mr. Zbarsky said to Suzanne Rose this morning, "Judge Tovar told that me that
he was deporting me without reading my evidence or hearing my arguments."
Zbarsky added, "I have spent two months working under the impression that I
would be given a fair hearing both for myself and for numerous detainees
here. My experience today shows that that was a complete waste of time."
Mr. Zbarsky observed that he did not get a fair hearing. In fact, he reported
that, "this morning at breakfast, two witnesses said that immigration
officials were telling them at 7:00 AM that I was being deported tomorrow."
This was, of course, before his hearing had taken place.
Mr. Zbarsky's hearing time began at 10:00 AM local time, three hours in
advance of the scheduled hearing time. John Morrow, the Canadian consular
representative from Dallas, Texas, phoned the prison at 9:00 AM to say that
he would be present at the court by 11:00 AM, two hours before the scheduled
time of 1:00 PM in order to ensure that he could personally witness Zbarsky's
hearing before the judge. But by 11:00 AM, Mr. Zbarsky had been ordered
deported and his hearing was over.
<snip>
Lazar Puhalo, Archbishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada, and a
member of the Human Rights Institute of Canada commented, "The Zbarsky case
raises serious questions about American regard for Canadian sovereignty. It
also raises questions as to how freely American authorities can access
records on Canadian citizens in Canada. The United States consistently shows
a callous disregard for international law."
Ira Zbarsky, a Canadian citizen, has been at the US Immigration and
Naturalization Service (INS) Port Isabel Service Processing Center, Los
Fresnos, Texas (aside from short periods in other jails) since December 4,
1999. Mr. Zbarsky has been detained as part of a US Immigration "removal
process" based on a minor Canadian conviction that occurred 22 years ago.
Nathan Selzer, the INS abuse researcher for Proyecto Libertad and the
American Friends Service Committee, has been working with Ira Zbarsky to
document the abuse in the US INS system. "While the conditions of the [US]
detention centers and prisons, where approximately 35,000 immigrants are
held on any given day, are cause for great concern for me and many others, I
have equal if not even greater concern for the million people who reside in
deep south Texas along the border, a quarter of whom (if not more) live in
constant fear given the intense militarization within our community. I am
very grateful to Ira for his efforts within the camp, as this fear can only
be overcome via trusting relationships, as he has developed with many during
his detention. ... I don't expect things to be resolved tomorrow, but slowly,
'poco a poco', through the concerted efforts of persons of good will and
those most impacted by the harshness of US immigration policy, we will change
our societies," said Selzer.
Suzanne Rose, co-ordinator of the support for Ira Zbarsky, said, "We are
appalled by what we continue to learn about the US INS -- its systematic
humiliation of detainees, its systematic violation of their human and legal
rights, and its mockery of due process in deportation proceedings. We expect
the US government to comply with United Nations and other international laws
for the treatment of all detainees, including migrants and asylum seekers as
well as Canadian visitors such as Ira Zbarsky."
"We continue to call on the Canadian government to consider carefully its
policies of sharing information with US police and immigration authorities,
given that Canadian citizens can be detained in US prisons that violate
United Nations principles on detainees and basic Canadian rights. We ask the
Canadian government to ensure that it maintains policies independent of the
US on criminal law, immigration law, surveillance of citizens, and the
sharing of legal and criminal information with the US. And we call on the
Canadian government to assist Mr. Zbarsky with any legal action he may take
once he has returned to Canada, and help ensure the return of the truck he
was driving and its contents," Rose added.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Suzanne Rose, Phone/Fax: 604-931-1396, Email: •••@••.•••
Kevan Hudson, Phone: 604-274-1191, Fax: 604-274-1198, Email:
•••@••.•••
Steve Kisby, Phone: 604-323-0204, Fax: 604-323-0224, Email: •••@••.•••
Nathan Selzer, Proyecto Libertad, Phone: 956-425-9552
Archbishop Lazar Puhalo, Email: •••@••.•••
BACKGROUNDER ON IRA ZBARSKY: DETENTION IN TEXAS
February 7, 2000
By Suzanne Rose
EARLY YEARS
Ira Zbarsky is a Canadian citizen, who resides in Vancouver. He was raised in
Montreal. As a young man he worked on a kibbutz in Israel. In the 1970's and
1980's, he organized the cooperative production and distribution of organic
food in the Interior of British Columbia (BC), Canada's western-most
province. He has a special love for orchards and farming. Mr. Zbarsky has
devoted many years to green issues: the permaculture, organic food,
cooperative and bioregional movements, and Green politics. He has served as
external secretary for the Green Party of British Columbia and for the Green
Party of Canada. He has also supported aboriginal issues.
SAPED
Mr. Zbarsky has spent the last ten years working with Mayans in Guatemala and
Southern Mexico. He is the project director for SAPED (Shuswap Association
for the Promotion of Eco-Desarrollo), a registered Canadian charity formed
in 1990 and based in Vancouver, BC. SAPED's goals are to promote
community-based, ecologically-responsible and culturally-respectful
development, using principles of mutual aid, appropriate technology, energy
conservation and permaculture.
ZBARSKY'S WORK WITH MAYANS
For much of the year, Mr. Zbarsky is in the Western Highlands in Guatemala
and Mexico, working with several Mayan coalitions, each serving many
community groups of Mayans. These people are working with SAPED through Mr.
Zbarsky on projects such as natural plant dyeing, medicinal herb gardens,
livestock shelters, hand-crank roof tiles, tree nurseries, greenhouses,
pedal-powered grain grinders, energy-conserving stoves, sewing and typing
academies. He is also assisting with setting up an indigenous rights and
training center and a natural agriculture center in the region.
ZBARSKY'S ARREST IN TEXAS
Ira Zbarsky was returning from work in Guatemala and Southern Mexico when he
was arrested and detained by US Immigration on December 4, 1999, at Roma,
Texas. At that time, the truck he was driving was seized. It was carrying
textiles from Guatemala and organic coffee from Southern Mexico, to be sold
in Canada as part of a fair trade exchange. Although Mr. Zbarsky has
travelled through the US many times, he was this time detained based on a
conviction which appears in a computer database which the US Immigration
officials were using. Mr. Zbarsky was convicted in 1978 for possession of
marijuana (for medical purposes). His fine in 1978 was $25.00, which is so
low that it suggests there were mitigating circumstances.
<snip>
ZBARSKY'S ACTIONS WHILE DETAINED
December 8-15
After public complaint on his own behalf, Ira Zbarsky was transferred from
jail to jail in shackles on arms and legs, and kept for 5 of those days in
solitary confinement. Mr. Zbarsky's shoulder and back were injured when he
fell while in shackles.
December 22
Mr. Zbarsky, plus 18 other detainees, submitted a letter requesting hot
water, warm clothing, conjugal visits, among other concerns. He also
requested help from outside the prison for a Muslim detainee from Burkina
Faso, Fousseni Banao, and for visits by prison monitors. Mr. Zbarsky, after
requesting access to his mail that day, was pushed by two guards against a
metal pipe and cursed at. Mr. Zbarsky went on a hunger strike, requesting a
written apology for gross disrespect and a general tribunal process for
detainee complaints.
December 30
Mr. Zbarsky ended his hunger strike. Head supervisor Jesus Rosales agreed to
the setting up of a tribunal process to hear detainee complaints.
January 7-10
Mr. Zbarsky learned of the beatings that had just occurred to Alex Seymour
Kerr, a Jamaican detainee in the same facility.
January 10
Mr. Zbarsky submitted letters to head supervisors Jesus Rosales and Yza
Guirre, calling for an inquiry into the beatings of Mr. Kerr, the recognition
of the right of bail for Texas residents, and a complaint process for
problems with heath services. He threatened to go on another hunger strike.
Mr. Rosales agreed to the inquiry and to direct access to the medical chief
Dr. Freeth for complaints.
January 14
Mr. Zbarsky submitted a letter to an INS guard for delivery to Mr. Rosales
and Yza Guirre, requesting the ending of body searches when detainees leave
the dining area. He was pushed around, yelled at, and cursed at by three INS
guards. He then sent a letter to the head of the INS, Ms. Doris Meissner,
asking for improved training of guards in order that they might treat
detainees with respect.
January 24
Mr. Zbarsky has submitted with other detainees a letter requesting that male
guards refrain from watching surveillance videos of female detainees. He also
started another hunger strike to demand from authorities that they put in
writing their earlier promise to set up a tribunal process for detainees,
given that they had not conducted an inquiry process into the beatings of Mr.
Kerr, who has since been moved out of the facility.
January 25
About 40-50 detainees meet publicly to plan a protest against the slow
removal process.
January 26
About 30 detainees started a hunger strike and petitioned the authorities
requesting the speed-up of the removal process through faster release,
deportation, or access to bail, unless the person is considered a risk to the
US government or a flight risk.
January 27
INS authorities promised to investigate thoroughly the cases of the strikers
plus certain other cases. Several detainees are deported or released on bail.
January 28
Ira Zbarsky and one other man remained on the hunger strike, seeking that
E.M. Trominski, a higher-level INS authority, investigate the systematic long
delays in processing detainees.
January 29
Zbarsky was again placed in solitary confinement, inside the prison's medical
unit.
February 1
Ira Zbarsky terminated his hunger strike due to medical reasons. He was then
released from solitary confinement.
February 7
Before his hearing, Ira Zbarsky participated in a large public protest
against unwarranted body searches.
Mr. Zbarsky is documenting the incidents of abuse and disrespect that he is
aware of. He is passing them on to Nathan Selzer [956-425-9552], a detainee
abuse researcher with the Prison Monitoring Program of the American Friends
Service Committee, of Philadelphia, and Proyecto Libertad, of Harlingen,
Texas. He is preparing documentation of the psychological abuse of detainees
for an INS psychologist.
Issa Smith [703-620-0134] of The Muslim Immigration and Refugee Service of
Washington, DC, is also supporting Mr. Zbarsky's efforts on behalf of
detainees.
Suzanne Rose has a summary of the relevant United Nations convenants and
rules, and a list of websites pertaining to US INS prison abuses and
violations of human rights.
Contacts:
Suzanne Rose, Phone/Fax: 604-931-1396, Email: •••@••.•••
Kevan Hudson, Phone: 604-274-1191, Fax: 604-274-1198, Email:
•••@••.•••
Steve Kisby, Phone: 604-323-0204, Fax: 604-323-0224, Email: •••@••.•••
*******************************************************
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 03:15:11 EST
Subject: zbarsky action #15
<snip>
SAPED
I have enclosed a letter about Ira's work, through SAPED. If you have
specific ways to help SAPED, send an email to •••@••.•••. Ira will be
very busy in the weeks ahead, so please be brief and focused.
He looks forward to resuming his work in the South.
PHONE BILL
The collect phone bill for Ira Zbarsky is over $500.00. It is billed to
Denise Velay, my sister, whose house I have been staying in to do this
campaign. If you can send a donation to help pay this bill, please make out
the cheque to Denise Velay. Please mark it "Zbarsky collect phone calls" and
mail it to
Denise Velay, 818 Henderson Avenue, Coquitlam, BC V3K 1P2
As this is not a SAPED donation, you would not receive a tax receipt, just
our gratitude.
<snip>
WEBSITE FOR YOUR INFORMATION
If you want to find out more about the immigration advocacy movement in the
United States, here are the websites.
www.aclu.org American Civil Liberties Union
www.afsc.org American Friends Service Committee
www.amnestyusa.org Amnesty International
www.irsa-uscr.org Immigration and Refugee Services of America
www.hrw.org Human Rights Watch
www.lirs.org Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services
www.nnirr.org The National Network for Immigrants and Refugees
Rights
www.tifa.org Texas Inmate Family Association
•••@••.••• Immigrants Rights Movement
•••@••.••• Muslim Immigration and Refugee Services
These are other websites you may find interesting:
www.canadians.org Council of Canadians: sovereignty issues
www.ccaft.org Canadians Concerned about Free Trade
www.davidorchard.com Canadian sovereignty issues
www.ins.usdoj.gov US Department of Justice: INS law
www.lisn.net leonard peltier Support for Leonard Peltier: in US prison
almost 25 years
www.thecompassionclub.org Support for medical use of marijuana
www.torchlake.com Ex-border guard for Port Isabel prison, who has
exposed abuse there
THANK YOU
Thank you for all your support. As Ira Zbarsky has desired, we have managed
to retain confidentiality of his legal plans, we have focused on the INS
abuses, and we stayed out of the mainstream media almost to the planned press
release time, January 12.
Thank you for your endurance: only two people have unsubscribed from this
list in the last 9 weeks.
<snip>
It has been a pleasure to be part of this support group. It has been 12 hours
per day for 9 weeks, in a city, far from my home village. I have missed folks
just stopping by for tea, sharing garden plants, community stories, a warm
hug, or just the view of the eagles out at sea. I wish to thank those of you
who sent me words of kind encouragement during one of the most challenging
times of my life.
You are an amazing cross-section of supporters. Perhaps over 2000 people
around North America and Europe will receive this alert. Most of you are
seriously involved in fair trade, food security, forestry, green, human
rights, indigenous, Mayan, medical aid, nonviolence, permaculture, and
sovereignty issues. Thank you for taking on immigration and prison issues on
Ira Zbarsky's behalf.
Thank you very much for your enthusiasm and indignation and concrete effort
on behalf of the INS detainees. The combination of Ira's bravery and your
support has delivered a clear message to the INS -- just as non-land-owners,
and people of colour, and women have struggled for and obtained their civil
rights, we expect non-citizens to gain their civil rights as well. .
Nathan Selzer of Proyecto Libertad, who has been working with Ira Zbarsky,
battles US INS abuse of detainees as a full-time commitment. He told me
recently,
" Far too many in the U.S. and other "developed" countries accept such
treatment as the standard and the norm as the punitive climate that has
overcome the "first world" continues to gain strength. The powers that be
are, and have been, decidedly against us in our struggle to have the right of
human mobility recognized as the fundamental human right that it is. I don't
expect things to be resolved tomorrow, but slowly, 'poco a poco', through
the concerted efforts of persons of good will and those most impacted by the
harshness of U.S. immigration policy, we will change our societies."
I am glad, and I believe you are glad, that we could lend a hand to this
struggle
Suzanne Rose
for Ira Zbarsky
for SAPED and the Ira Zbarsky Support Committee
(604) 931-1396 •••@••.•••
SAPED BACKGROUNDER
Dear Reader
Thank you for your interest in SAPED and its work in Guatemala and Southern
Mexico.
WHAT IS SAPED?
SAPED is a British Columbia-based registered charitable organization, founded
in 1990. SAPED promotes: co-operative local economies, appropriate
technologies, ecologically-based development, permaculture-based land use,
indigenous cultural survival, and community-based organizations. The project
director, Ira Zbarsky, has spent 10 years working with organizations in
Guatemala and Chiapas.
MAYAN PEOPLE BUILD SELF-RELIANCE
The people of the Central Highlands in Chiapas and Guatemala are Mayan
peasants. They have traditionally produced what they need: shelter, food,
medicine and clothing. They want technologies that respect their Mayan
culture, restore their land base ecologically, conserve energy, and foster
co-operation. They want economic self-reliance, in order to produce what they
need, sell what they produce at fair price, and defend their own regional and
cultural values. They want their own strong organizations to obtain
resources, promote their values, and defend their leaders.
HOW ARE THE MAYANS DOING THIS?
Throughout the Central Highlands, Mayans are experimenting. They work in
community organizations on their own development projects. SAPED, through Ira
Zbarsky’s work, has assisted with the following types of projects.
FOOD: greenhouses for vegetables, fruit orchards, livestock feed production,
pedal-powered grain grinders and workshops
SHELTER AND CLOTHING: hand-cranked roof tiles, livestock shelters from scrap
wood, plant-based fiber dying
HEALTH: plant-based water treatment, medicinal herb nurseries
EDUCATION: typing and sewing academies, community workshops
ECONOMY: revolving loan funds, production for local consumption.
Mayans are dealing with cultural change on their own terms: making economic
and technological changes without sacrificing their own values and way of
life.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO SUPPORT SAPED’S WORK?
You can do the following:
· join SAPED: give $25.00 a year and receive the newsletter
· donate money to SAPED and receive a tax receipt
· donate tools: bicycle parts, sewing machines, typewriters etc.
· help raise funds: hold events, research donors, find outlets to sell Mayan
crafts and coffee
· help spread the word: arrange meetings or slideshows
· provide needed information; for example, on plant-based water treatment
CONTACT US
If you want to contact us...
* phone Kevan at (604) 274-1191
* email to •••@••.•••
* write to SAPED, 818 Henderson Road, Coquitlam, BC, V3K1P2 Canada
Please send us your name and mailing address.
Email address is preferred for the newsletter list.
-end-
